Sheet folding



Nov. 27, 1928.

H. K. KING SHEET FOLDING Filed July 1, 1927 W .k Ir

m o N o w o /w I Q 10 i o #4 Wm; Y Q 0. oO H o M o 1 A TTORNEY Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

HOWARD K. KING, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CHAMBER BROTHERS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA;

SHEET FOLDING.

Application filed July 1,

' The invention relates to sheet folding. The object is to provide improved method and means for folding sheets, especially two or more sheets together so that they will be close- 6 ly associated at the crease. v V

' WVhere two sheets or two layers of a sheet are simultaneously creased together by the usual method or means, it sometimes happens,

7 due to the peculiar characteristic or quality of the sheet, that the said sheets or layers are not maintained with their creases in sufficiently close relationship. That is to say, the

crease of one sheet or layer'may slip slightly away from the crease of the other sheet or layer. This may be in part due to the previous treatment of the sheet, and to the friction of the striking blade as it is withdrawn from the sheet, after the sheet has come under the control of the rollers. It is known that the striking blade must carry the sheet at its fold or crease sufficiently down between the rollers so that the rollers will operate positively upon the sheet, but it also is necessary thatthe striking blade must not go down 35 sufiiciently between the rollers to be pinched or engaged thereby. These conditions require a nice adjustment of the movement of the striking'blade, and with some sheets it is practically impossible to carry the sheets sufiiciently into the control of tnerollers to prevent slipping, especially of one sheet from another where two or more sheets or layers are struck together between the rollers. V

The purpose of the present invention is to provide method and means whereby the crease is carried well within the control of the rollers without any danger of the blade being caught by the rollers, and without requiring any especially fine adjustment of the movement of the striking blade. By bringing the layers at the crease into positive engagement of the rollers all tendency for one layer to slip from another at the crease 1s obviated. p

This end is accomplished by engaging the sheets on the line of crease at separated points or places, and engaging the sheets between the rollers at different points or places, so that the means for bringing the sheets under 1927. Serial No. 202,814.

control of the-' rollers operate at points alternatlng with the points ofroller en agement. In this way the sheets are carrie well down into roller engagement without danger of the striking blade becoming. engaged with said rollers.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate merely by way of example suitable means for? effecting my invention Fig. 1 is a view showing the rollerand striking blade in cross-section, the blade-arm being in elevation. 1

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rollers.

3 is an alt vation of the striking blade.

Fig. 4 1s a section on line 4, 4 of 2, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5,5 of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale. 7

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, ona reduced scale, showing a modification of the arrangement of the sheets.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In Figs. 1 and 2 are shown the parallel folding rollers 10 and 11 having the grooves 12, into which project the strippers 13. These rollers are of the usual type, except that the extensions between the grooves 12 are of different diameters. That is they are provided with extensions 14 which are of maximum diameter. The opposite pairsof extensions 14 of the two rollers have their peripheries in close proximity in order to engage the sheets and carry them between and through the rollers. Other extensions 15 are of substantially reduced diameter, so that opposite pairs of extensions 15 are sufficiently separated as to their peripheries to provide ample space for the projecting extensions 16 of the strikin blade 17, to pass with the sheets between sai rollers approximately to a plane common to their axes. Other extensions 18 are slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of the extensions 15 and slightly less in diameter than the diameter of the extensions 14. These tend to maintain the fold or crease of the sheet in proper alinement with the line of en- The striking blade 17v carried onthe oscill'ating arm 25,'1s pro'vlded with a number of extensions 16', which project beyond the normalengaging edge 26 01 the blade 17. In other words these projecting extensions 16 are disposed at separated intervals, corresponding in position with that of the roller extensions Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section showing thenextensions 16 of blade 17 projecting down to the common plane ofthe axes of the two rollers. but well separated from the opposite peripheries of the roller sections 15.

' n operation.

When the striking blade 17 is lowered, the

projecting extensions 16 engage the sheets or layers 19 and 20 or 23 and 24: and carry them downbetweenthe rollers 10 and 11 so that the pairs of extensions 14 will engage the sheets and'crease the same along a straight line. of fold and carry them between and through the rollers in the usual way, so that. the folded sheet will travel beneath the guide rods'27 in the direction of the arrow in Fig.

i 1.. Because of the reduced diameters of the extensions 15, ample space is permitted for {the projecting extensions 16 to pass well between these pairs of. extensions to approximately the common plane of the axes of the two rollers." This assures the folded edge of the sheets being brought well within the grip of the several pairs of roller extensions 14 so that therewill be no slip of one sheet with respect to the other; and also, because of the ample space between the several pairs of extensions 15, into which the blade extensions 16 project, thereis no. possibility of the blade being gripped by the rollers and there is no undue friction between the blade and the sheet to cause displacement between the sheets thus folded together.

WVhat I claim is 1. The method of folding sheets which consists in exerting actuating force on the sheet at intervals on a straight line of crease and simultaneously to cause the sameto be subjected to creasing pressures at other intervals on said line of crease alternating with the first intervals.

V The method of folding sheets which consists in exerting actuating force on a plurality of superimposed sheets, moving in parallel paths of travel at intervals on a straight line of crease to cause the same to be subjected to creasing pressures at other intervals on said line of crease. alternating with the first intervals. 1

3. In a sheet folding machine, the conbination of a continuous striking blade having sheet-engaging edge extensionsspaced at intervals along its length, and slightly project ing beyond the intervening edge extensions and a pair ot't'olding'rollers, each having extensions of relatively reduced diameter arranged at corresponding intervals, to form spaces for the said projecting edge extensions.

4:- In a sheet folding machine,the combination of a striking blade having sheet-engaging projecting extensions spaced at intervals along its length, and a pair of folding rollers having extensions of relatively reduced diameter arranged at corresponding intervals,

to form spaces for the sheet-engaging blade extensions, said rollers having other extensions of relatively greater diametercooperating to grip the sheet. I

5. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination of a striking blade having sheet-engaging projecting extensions spaced at in tervals, and a pair of folding rollers cooperating therewith, said rollers each having extensions of dilierent diameters so arranged that the diameters of the several extensions of one roller will correspond respectively with the diameters of the opposite extensions of the other roller, as and for the purpose described.

HOWARD K. KING. 

